Marsa Scrapyard Denied Reopening After Two Fires

A Marsa scrapyard that was engulfed by massive fires twice has not been granted authorisation to resume operations, a spokesperson for the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) confirmed. ERA stated…

A Marsa scrapyard that was engulfed by massive fires twice has not been granted authorisation to resume operations, a spokesperson for the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) confirmed.

ERA stated that it is conducting regular monitoring to ensure the site is neither operating nor accepting additional waste. The regulator also said it is overseeing a proper and thorough clean-up of the site, in full compliance with all relevant legislation, according to Times of Malta.

The scrapyard, which has a history of environmental infringements, caught fire in November in a blaze reportedly visible from space. Two months later, Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri revealed that an initial estimate by the Civil Protection Department (CPD) put the cost of the firefighting effort at €166,000.

JAC Steel’s former insurers refused a €600,000 payout claim for a previous blaze at the same site in September 2021. Argus, the insurer, denied the claim due to unsafe practices at the scrapyard, which they said increased the risk of fire occurrence and spread.

According to court documents, Argus Insurance noted evidence of a “disregard for good working practices,” which had led the ERA to order the operators to clean up their act.

“In the period leading up to the incident, none of the issues had been properly addressed, leading to the ERA imposing fines for non-conformity,” Argus stated in response to JAC Steel’s payout claim.

The company added added: “In our opinion, the circumstances described are of material significance, resulting in an increased risk of fire inception and spread.”

The breaches included exceeding the permitted amount of hazardous goods on site, using an industrial waste material shredding machine without a permit, and failing to properly clean up liquid spillages of hazardous waste.

What do you make of this?

•

Read the full article at the original source